Today it's an afternoon game on FOX with Gio looking to even the series.

The Nats took a tough loss last night in New York, their fifth in the last seven games. Injuries have caused Davey Johnson to use different lineups over the last few games, but today he will at least get back Danny Espinosa. Espinosa is in the lineup batting seventh after missing the last four games due to a sore right wrist.

Ryan Zimmerman is out once again with reports saying he needed an MRI on his injured hamstring. In his place will be Chad Tracy at third base, making the start for the second straight day.

The Nationals will try for their tenth win of the season with Gio Gonzalez on the mound. Gonzalez went 3-1 last season vs. the Mets with a 3.27 ERA after allowing eight earned runs in 22 innings pitched. For New York, 27 year old Jeremy Hefner (0-2, 7.20 ERA) will take the ball.

Is Danny on the line up supposed to inspire confidence? And losing Lombo? Is that a net gain or loss?As John C. earlier showed Espy was the better player offensively … and then there's defense. Net gain. Even with the rotator cuff which was worse last season.But the lineup lacks a legitimate impact bat outside of Harper. That's the real issue. Davey doesn't play "smart ball".

just saw the clip of the pregame anthem from boston. the whold crowd actually singing – and singing the melody! not just listening to someone sounding like they're auditioning for american idol. too bad it took a bombing.

Peric, from thé last post, way to go on manipulating facts and numbers to support your Rendon at 3rd theory. 99.9% or 71.4% is the real number for this season. Rendon's #'s last season when he was a 100% 3rd baseman means nothing.

I hope that Gio is the stopper we need him to be. I also remembered this morning that ALR is an historically slow starter. As long as we finish the month well above .500, I'm not going to worry. But I'm starting to look into Maalox stock.

MRI?? – I have no problem with the mri but you obviously don't need an MRI for a "cramp". Again, our top medical staff on top of things (not). I am all for getting Ryan the appropriate rest but you did those of us with a little background in sports medicine a disservice calling it a cramp.Is Lombo's arm just not strong enough to play 3rd?Hope GIO dominates the Mets like he did last year. Win these two boys and keep those series wins coming!!Go Nats!!!

Rendon's #'s last season when he was a 100% 3rd baseman means nothing.He was JUST AS BLOCKED last season as this and last season everyone was clamoring for him to replace Espinosa at second base.FINALLY Keith Law's constant harping about Rendon's ankles is a valid supposition: Rendon should not be relied on to be an everyday shortstop or second baseman with two ankles that have previously been fractured. AND HE IS NOT A UTILITY GUY Chase! Puuuuuuhleeese! He's a starter.To quote Sherlock Holmes, "When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."Anthony Rendon is a third baseman and it may be moot because if they find something on the MRI its highly likely Mr. Rendon will be on his way to become ensconced at his natural position in the majors.

What does Lombo have to do to wrestle 2b from a weak hitting espi.Over an entire season he has yet to prove he is better. Apparently the AZ Diamondbacks agreed preferring Prado to Lombo. And then there's the defense at which Espy clearly excels.Lombo needs to raise the OBP and OPS.

sjm, can't blame the Docs without knowing what RZim told them. More Zim injury drama.Just like last year when he was the hole in the 3-hole and wouldn't come out of the lineup with a shoulder that required surgery. Now, that they have Rendon healthy they can tell him to go on the DL. He likely won't like that.

Peric- and what does Tyler Moore need to do. Seems like Lombo has played better than him on both sides.Lombo isn't going to hit 30 home runs now is he? Even as bulked up as he is. Tyler doesn't have to do anything. T-Mo is blocked by Werth and Span. Its a waiting game. I'd rather see him down in Syracuse playing every day in left and right field than sitting on the bench. Because we both either an injury or poor performance will ensue. But Davey likes him a lot. Davey knows what he can do. But Davey has to play Rizzo's lineup for a while. When Atlanta's lead gets over 10 games Davey's arguments and opinions will again come to the fore.

Tyler is going to hit 30? He might try to hit one first. This is 2013. Not 2012. I think you have a double standard.Moore hit 10 last year mostly pinch hitting … more of his fly balls and line drives went for home runs than anyone else. He had the highest ISO tied with LaRoche.I think he'd be better off down in Syracuse playing every day in left and righ field. I suspect by the end of April Moore would have 10 or more homers there.

Peric I think you are crazy if you don't think Johnson has the starters and bench he wants right now, they simply aren't producing. Rizzo does not have a gun to his head to play Span, Espinoza or Werth.

Rizzo does not have a gun to his head to play Span, Espinoza or Werth.Werth with his contrract? He has to really look bad to get pulled. Rizzo traded for Span and gave up A LOT!!! As for Espinosa they guy has real talent and a high ceiling I'm just not a fan of the loose rotator cuff he has. Rizzo had to cajole Bowden to draft a Boras client so high and Bowden hated every second of the negotiations to sign Espinosa. So, there's that.

swami, here is why not to be discouraged. It's April 20. Ian just hit a dinger. He does that. We have good pitching most days. We didn't just suddenly became awful. ALR will hit up as he does. Danny will make his case or not but recall that Desi didn't come on till mid-May. We will be in the hunt the whole way. We will.

Peric, the starting outfield is one of the best in the Majors in Span, Werth and Harp.You keep talking about Tyler Moore starting in LF. It ain't happening so why don't you just keep talking about Ryan Zimmerman to 1st base in 2015 as if we haven't heard you say that a few thousand times.

Peric, the starting outfield is one of the best in the Majors in Span, Werth and Harp.Upton/Upton/Heyward is a lot better. With Moore you get a XBH hitter on par with any of those three to go with Harper. You lose some defensively but that's what they had last season and it worked didn't it?

Ghost Of Steve M. said… Peric, from thé last post, way to go on manipulating facts and numbers to support your Rendon at 3rd theory. 99.9% or 71.4% is the real number for this season. Rendon's #'s last season when he was a 100% 3rd baseman means nothing. April 20, 2013 2:45 PM ____________________________________Agreed. Last year Rendon was strictly a 3rd baseman and this is just another example of Peric's agenda in giving incorrect numbers saying Rendon has only played ***ONE** time at 2nd and his 99.9% figure. Rizzo sees Rendon as a 3rd baseman but in order to get his bat in the lineup, Rizzo wants options. Why do you want to fight it. Who cares. What happens, happens. Sit back and watch what happens.What's so hard to understand about all that?

Rizzo wants options. Why do you want to fight it. Who cares. What happens, happens..So, why TF&^%CK do you care Gonat? Huh? Look ankles do you know about ankles. Its risky starting Rendon at short and second base with his medical history: both ankles fractured in freak incidents. They might be weak. Same with shortstop. HE IS A STARTER NOT A UTIL!? Right? Perhaps as UTL like Tracy you can get away with that. BUT Rendon IS NOT TRACY right? Rendon is a STARTING third baseman for the Nats or for another team. And I don't see the Nats trading a young talent unless they got a treasure trove in return do you?

The Angels just put up a nine-spot against Rick Porcello in the first inning, and they are bringing in Smyly. That is going to mess with your bullpen big time, and they didn't have a good bullpen to begin with. So the Tigers aren't going to sail to the WS either–what a shock.

Have faith in what Rizzo decides to do Peric. You are like a whining kid that keeps repeating himself over and over and over with the same message and then when you manipulate the numbers, it's just a sad reminder that you lose credibility in what you say.

Dave, this MMA segment to promote their show is so typical of FOX. Next they will have a singer from American Idol in the stands. What a joke they are.Maybe they'll zoom in on Rush Limbaugh sitting next to Rand Paul and the head of the NRA in the stands.

peric, what you say about RZ and Rendon will both come true. Just let it happen when it happens.Happy to do that Gonat. In fact I think it would be better for Rendon to do a stint in both Harrisburg and Syracuse just to be sure he really is healthy enough to last a season … not to mention learning all that he can. The point is Rendon isn't blocked. He has a position. Its third base. Other players (like Moore) are blocked. He isn't. And I fear will see him sooner rather than later and if Rizzo says he would like to see him get more minor league experience I tend to agree with that sentiment.

Moore needs more starts against LH hitting at 1st base. ALR also seems to do better with some rest.Once Bernadina learns to hit again, Davey can rest Werth but right now he only has TyMo to play LF and would have to shift Harp to RF to rest Werth.17 games in 17 games is a marathon. RZ's health once again is in big question.

Once Bernadina learns to hit again, Davey can rest Werth but right now he only has TyMo to play LF and would have to shift Harp to RF to rest Werth.And if he doesn't the Nats have two guys in the minors with left-handed bats who might be better in Brown and Komatsu both on the DL right now. That's nothing to worry about. 17 games in 17 games is a marathon. RZ's health once again is in big question.They need his healthy bat. Not the the reduced bat speed can't reach outside pitches version.

Freaking Danny. Right down the middle and he leaves Tracy hanging. He looks like a AAA hitter more and more.He probably didn't expect Tracy go be going? I mean isn't that obvious? WTF was Tracy thinking trying steal? That's like Matt Stairs trying to steal.

Peric please get off the ALR hate train. His 14 Ks have nothing to do with Espinoza missing the pitch, the slide in the price of gold or anything else. He is struggling no doubt but to say it has anything to do with the caught stealing is absurd.

Sofa, last season you cracked us up with Matt Kemp and "Kemp down ladies" I thought that if we combine Lucas Duda we could have Kemp down ladies sing this song Duda Duda trying to stay positive my friends as I watch Nats falling apart againjust

Recall that last year, the only rap on the new acquisition, Gio, was that that he walked too many. But last year his penchant for walking never really reared its ugly head. Well, Gio is apparently returning to form — too many walks — and nearly 3 WP's —

It's not early people. The season is on. We can talk about Zimm at third Laroche no Morse. Bottom line is we have two pitchers. This includes the bullpen. Other then j Zimm and det every pitcher is just terrible.

Peric please get off the ALR hate train. His 14 Ks have nothing to do with Espinoza missing the pitch, the slide in the price of gold or anything else.He swings and MISSES FAR more than Danny at this point. But I don't hear anyone complaining about the HOLE in the 4/5-hole?

Wow. What is up with our pitching staff? And I mean, really, and our defense is shaky, our offense having terrible at bats. Have we come from behind even once this season or have they folded every time? This is very disturbing and confusing. I love these guys, but what is going on?

I just have to say this. Lombo would never have done that. He would have made contact and been much smarter at the plate.Lombo is like Christian Guzman he might hit for a high average but he'll always have a low OBP. He doesn't walk he'll swing rather than take one. He isn't a power hitter.

Our guys were better when they were the underdogs. Soon, they actually will be again. And maybe that won't be a bad thing.Pretty much what I've been used to from it seems forever … Have to admit there is a strange somewhat masochistic attraction to the notion.

Peric, what about LaRoche and those K's?Just like with YOU AND Danny Ghost I don't like the K's I like it better when he takes strolls don't you? But, yes 3-run homers put the fear of God into pitchers and helps the guys hitting in front of him.

Faraz: haha Harper aint locked up for 15 years my friend. It's like 7 years.He might re-up with the Nats. If he becomes the team leader and local icon? But, that's down the road. Right now the owners are the wealthiest in baseball. They'll start looking seriously at extending him in just around 2 years after he gets a couple of full seasons in.

Davey pronounces it "Stay-men," of course, and these uninformed national announcers tend to lazily pick it up from him. Lots of us gave ESPN's Dan Shulman a hard time about it last year, and he told us he got it from Davey.

Peric you speak like you the last word on everything and its all fact. Sorry, there Svengale, but only God and Harper knows what harp is gonna do — haha Post less but better quality!!A rather moronic post don't you think? I didn't say "what Harper would do" what I suggested was that he have good hitters around him. After all this is only HIS FIRST full year? He's not a savior ya know? Morons should post less.

Maybe if davey learned the names we would be doing better.I half wonder if it isn't a part of his "schtick". Acting a bit like Yogi-Berra with his own Yogi-isms. Makes him seem like the old curmudgeonly old-school manager belying the keen competitive, almost arrogant intellect beneath. Its almost Pirandellian.

You wonder if it would be in Moore's best interest to give him a couple of weeks playing every day.He projects as a starter as with last season he would be far better off in Syracuse playing every day instead of learning how to be the best pinch hitter he can. But Davey wants him on his bench.

Not only is the bullpen good now the best bullpen in baseball.The Brave's bullpen was better even before all of their moves. The Nat's bullpen still a work in progress. Seems like Rizzo at least answered that call by signing Soriano.

Zim going on DL?In spite of what we are seeing today I'll once again go against the grain and state categorically: Zim is the Nat's best hitter. This may be a blessing in disguise. They need that impact bat. And its going to become more and more a desperate need as the season progresses. Zim needs to get completely healthy and yes, eventually move to first base to keep that bat healthy.

Is it my imagination or is Rendon a lot like Morse? Sort of fragile, but when healthy can hit?Except for the ankles not really. The shoulder was just a strain … he's a lot smaller than Morse, is a far better fielder and a far more refined hitter than Morse was at his age. The ankles need to be watched not sure if he still has screws in them or not? There has to be some concern. But, he doesn't have the injury history Morse had … at least not yet.

Oh, not a good game to watch. But TERRIBLE to listen to. McCarver said that the first base ump used his "olfactory senses" on a bang-bang play. Um, yeah. But good teams win when not all of their top players play, or play well. Remember today's game come September.

This is the story about a blog name NatsInsiderSaid I made stuff up just to be an upender …Then one day the Nats decided ol' Zim needed to move …And up from the minors comes a bubblin' true …Rendon that is … Anthony THIRD BASEMAN right Chase?Bryce Harper was excited to hear #nats are calling up Rendon. Said it sucks to put Zimmerman on DL but "awesome" Rendon's coming up. LOOK WHO IS RIGHT and all those fools WHO ARE WRONG! AGAIN!

Happy that Rendon is getting called up to play 3b. But Zim most likely takes 3b back after his dl stint unless Laroche gets injured or the Nats just bench him(highly unlikely)That all depends on how Rendon and LaRoche perform and what Zim looks like in his minor league rehab stints … where he just might be see first base for some games.

Amanda Comack: #nats Mike Rizzo agreed w/what Davey said in that most likely when Zimmerman comes off DL Rendon will return to minors for more seasoning.I agree but what if the guy is the better hitter even better than Harper and proves it in the majors? And his fielding is gold glove caliber. Then what? Do you punish him for doing the job? That doesn't sound at all like Rizzo or Johnson. In the end we shall see. But I think this kind of competition where jobs are at stake is good for this team. As many observed they did seem rather lethargic out the gate. This should put a charge in their fannies.

Peric…: kinda sweet, no? No, because I agree with our GM and manager Rendon does need seasoning. He's major league ready right now but time spent in the minors does tend to teach a thing or two. Now, Harper got that training from Davey and Werth. Rendon is older and more mature but who does he get to mentor him? Likely Davey again … but he's not a supercharged 19 year old like BHarp. I just looked at this team saw Zim struggling with the shoulder, watched LaRoche struggle with the bat, wondered about Espinosa and his rotator cuff. Knew Tyler Moore would be blocked because of Rizzo's big trade and Werth … it was a recipe for a call-up of a major league ready top prospect that was already on the 40-man.

So, he was smelling a hit? :-)ehay2k said… Oh, not a good game to watch. But TERRIBLE to listen to. McCarver said that the first base ump used his "olfactory senses" on a bang-bang play. Um, yeah. But good teams win when not all of their top players play, or play well. Remember today's game come September. April 20, 2013 7:08 PM